Manchester United will have to be patient with new striker Rasmus Hojlund after discovering the seriousness of the injury that has delayed his debut

Manchester United will have to be patient with Rasmus Hojlund (Image: Getty Images)

Rasmus Hojlund’s Manchester United game time will reportedly be limited on his return to action – after the club learned of the severity of his injury.

It was already known that the £72million arrival would not be available to Erik ten Hag when the Premier League season starts next weekend after a stress response hotspot was spotted in an MRI scan on his back.

It has now been reported that the issue was more serious that initially hoped, with fears that a stress fracture could form despite him only turning 20 earlier in the year.

Already set to miss out on fixtures against Wolves and Tottenham on his debut season at Old Trafford, the Denmark international could play a reduce role when he is available to play.

The Mail report that United will limit the playing time of Hojlund to avoid his back injury from becoming more serious.

The report adds that the back injury was picked up during his second medical with the Red Devils after they asked for a second opinion.

The club have indicated that it will take several weeks for the former Atalanta man to reach full fitness following a season in which he scored 10 goals across 34 matches.

Rasmus Hojlund has arrived from Atalanta a long way from full fitness (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Ten Hag has told Sky Sports of his new forward: “It’s difficult to say how that process will go, but I think he’s making good progress at this moment. We have to see day by day how the progress will go, then we have to follow up.

“Of course when he’s available and he’s here so you have the option to play, but we don’t expect him in that short notice to be 100 per cent fit.

“So we have to wait sometime more. We need all positions doubled because of the number of games.

Erik ten Hag might need to find another central striking option (Image: Getty Images)

“We need the competition, you always have to deal with suspensions and injuries, with the form of players.

“Also from a technical perspective, we need double positioning and yes you need good players, but also every player needs perspective to play.

“I’m happy with the squad and I want a strong squad and competition in the squad so I’m happy with the current players who are in, so if we go with the squad into the season, that’s fine.”